Psalm 7
Notes
Transcript
Title: A Shiggaion of David, which he sang to the LORD concerning the words of Cush, a Benjamite.
1 O LORD my God, I take refuge in You; save me and deliver me from all my pursuers,
2 or they will shred my soul like a lion and tear me to pieces with no one to rescue me.
3 O LORD my God, if I have done this, if injustice is on my hands,
4 if I have rewarded my ally with evil, if I have plundered my foe without cause,
5 then may my enemy pursue me and overtake me; may he trample me to the ground and leave my honor in the dust. Selah
6 Arise, O LORD, in Your anger; rise up against the fury of my enemies. Awake, my God, and ordain judgment.
7 Let the assembled peoples gather around You; take Your seat over them on high.
8 The LORD judges the peoples; vindicate me, O LORD, according to my righteousness and integrity.
9 Put an end to the evil of the wicked, but establish the righteous, O righteous God who searches hearts and minds.
10 My shield is with God, who saves the upright in heart.
11 God is a righteous judge and a God who feels indignation each day.
12 If one does not repent, God will sharpen His sword; He has bent and strung His bow.
13 He has prepared His deadly weapons; He ordains His arrows with fire.
14 Behold, the wicked man travails with evil; he conceives trouble and births falsehood.
15 He has dug a hole and hollowed it out; he has fallen into a pit of his own making.
16 His trouble recoils on himself, and his violence falls on his own head.
17 I will thank the LORD for His righteousness and sing praise to the name of the LORD Most High.
General observations:
Title: A Shiggaion of David, which he sang to the LORD concerning the words of Cush, a Benjamite.
Written by David; a response to accusations from a man called Cush, a Benjamite (likely during the same timeframe as Psalms 3-6, when David was running from Absalom; Psalm 9 seems to end this section with the title including the phrase “death of the son” - probably referring to Absalom’s death)
The New Treasury of Scripture Knowledge Chapter 7
Shiggaion probably denotes a mournful song, or elegy, from the Arabic shaga, to be anxious, sorrowful. Hab 3:1. words. or, business. 2 S ch. 16. Cush. Cush signifies black, an epithet in all languages when applied to the mind, expressive of moral turpitude; and therefore probably here applied to Shimei, denoting that he was a calumniator and villain.
See 2 Samuel 16:5-8, 11-14 for the possible account of these accusations
5 As King David approached Bahurim, a man from the family of the house of Saul was just coming out. His name was Shimei son of Gera, and as he approached, he kept yelling out curses.
6 He threw stones at David and at all the servants of the king, though the troops and all the mighty men were on David’s right and left.
7 And as he yelled curses, Shimei said, “Get out, get out, you worthless man of bloodshed!
8 The LORD has paid you back for all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose place you have reigned, and the LORD has delivered the kingdom into the hand of your son Absalom. See, you have come to ruin because you are a man of bloodshed!”
11 Then David said to Abishai and to all his servants, “Behold, my own son, my own flesh and blood, seeks my life. How much more, then, this Benjamite! Leave him alone and let him curse me, for the LORD has told him so.
12 Perhaps the LORD will see my affliction and repay me with good for the cursing I receive today.”
13 So David and his men proceeded along the road as Shimei went along the ridge of the hill opposite him. As Shimei went, he yelled curses, threw stones, and flung dust at David.
14 Finally, the king and all the people with him arrived, exhausted. And there he refreshed himself.
A song to be sung (no instrumental accompaniment mentioned)
Shiggaion - unknown meaning (similar word used also in Habakkuk 3:1); probably a term relating to the music, kind of Psalm, occasion for singing, etc.
Parallels with other Psalms (there are many others besides these, but these show the clear connection with the surrounding Psalms)
“take refuge” - 7:1; 5:11; 2:12
“save me” - 7:1; 6:4
“foe” / “enemy” - 7:4-6; 6:7, 10; 3:1, 7
“Arise, O LORD” - 7:6; 3:7
“in Your anger” - 7:6; 6:1 (see also 2:5, 12)
The LORD as “shield” - 7:10; 3:3
The “name” of the LORD - 7:17; 5:11; 8:1, 9
7 Sections of Psalm 7. - (Chiastic structure)
v. 1-2 - David’s plea for deliverance
v. 3-5 - David’s Oath of Innocence
v. 6-8 - Arise, O LORD & Judge the Wicked
v. 9-10 - Desire for Righteousness Expressed
v. 11-13 - God’s Righteous Judgment
v. 14-16 - The Wicked Man’s Fate
v. 17 - David’s Praise for God’s Righteousness
What does this Psalm say about God (His character, works, & promises)?
The LORD is angry at sin and those committed to sin and will judge (v. 6, 11-12)
God searches hearts and minds and knows everything (v. 9)
God is a righteous judge (v. 11)
God is the Savior of the upright in heart (10) - those who repent from sin and trust Him (12).
What emotions or feelings are expressed?
Anger (6)
Indignation (11)
Thankfulness (v. 17)
Is there a Theme or Key Verse that stands out to you?
v. 17 “I will thank the LORD for His righteousness and sing praise to the name of the LORD Most High.” - David praises God and thanks Him for being the kind of God who always does what is right.
v. 8-11: Focus on God’s justice and righteousness, judgment of the wicked and salvation of the righteous
What comparisons or contrasts do you notice?
Wicked vs. righteous
What other observations do you have?
.
Christ Connections
v. 8: Like David, Jesus was falsely accused and mistreated for things He did not do. What’s more, He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree (1 Pet 2:24) - He who knew no sin was made to be sin for our benefit (2 Cor 5:21). But He was vindicated by His resurrection from the dead, and He Himself will be the judge of all (Acts 17:31)
Applications: In what ways do I need to change based on the truth God reveals here?
(Desires / Feelings, Thinking, Speaking, or Acting)
Because God is a righteous judge, I must persevere in faith and trust that at the right time He will judge and make everything right.
I must pursue personal righteousness - living according to the character and Word of God (faith leads to obedience).
What prayers can we make based on this Psalm?
Confession - I confess that
Praise - I praise You, God for
Thanks - Thank You, Lord, for
Petition - Please help me to